Florida Rep. Randy Fine rejects JD Vance, calls new Michigan senator a terrorist

Florida Representative Randy Fine has formally exited the 2028 race for the Republican presidential nomination, citing deep disagreements with the current administration.

In a Sunday interview with The Jerusalem Post, the newly reelected congressman stated he will not support Vice President JD Vance in the upcoming primary. Fine argued that Vance betrayed President Donald Trump by blaming Israel and American Jews for the party's recent midterm setbacks. He contended that these losses were instead due to internal party dynamics and the handling of the war in Iran.

Fine criticized Vance's diplomatic approach to the Middle East conflict. He described a memorandum of understanding negotiated earlier this year as a move that prolonged the war rather than resolving it. According to Fine, Vance led the administration astray by claiming a peace deal was achievable, a position the representative now views as incorrect given the current state of hostilities.

The conversation turned to Abdul El-Sayed, the Michigan Democrat who defeated Mike Rogers to become the first Muslim member of the United States Senate. Fine labeled El-Sayed a Muslim terrorist, a description he maintained when pressed directly on the term. He alleged that El-Sayed’s family maintains ties to the Muslim Brotherhood and that the senator-elect signed a document supporting the organization.

Those specific claims have not been fully verified. El-Sayed has consistently denied any formal connection to the Brotherhood and has publicly disavowed the group. Fact-checkers noted that a 2012 statement signed by El-Sayed defended Egypt's then-elected president, Mohamed Morsi, but did not serve as a general pledge of allegiance to the organization. No evidence indicates that El-Sayed participated in terrorist activities.

Fine also identified the Tucker Carlson wing of the party as a source of rising anti-Israel sentiment. He warned that many Americans and Israelis underestimate how quickly hostile rhetoric has gained traction. Fine argued that the events of October 7 should have increased sympathy for the Jewish people, but instead, emboldened those with longstanding animosity to make extreme claims in political discourse.

Looking to Israel, Fine expressed opposition to the inclusion of parties he views as hostile in the post-election coalition negotiations. He described this dynamic as an existential question for the state, comparing the political risks to competing nuclear threats without distinguishing between the varying positions of different Arab parties.

The interview ended with Fine predicting dark times ahead for American politics. He emphasized the need to speak truth without fear during this period, marking a distinct split within the Republican Party on foreign policy and the role of religious groups.